Mineral fiber felting



4 Sheets-Sheet l F. c. RUSSELL ETA!- MINERAL FIBER FELTING Filed Dec. 5. 1929.

May 19, 15 1.

y 19, 1931- F. c. RUSSELL E r AL 1,806,024

- MINERAL FIBER FELTING Filed Dec, 5. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y F. c. RUSSELL ET AL 1,806,024

MINERAL FIBER FELTING Filed Dec. 5. '1929 4 Sheets -Sheet 3 I j/ I /.9

if jji Z? y 1931- F. c. RIIUSSELL ET AL v1,306,024

MINERAL FIBER FELTING Filed Dc. 5. 1929 4 Sheets$heet. 4

- Jwt ou' M Qjzvuev QM L. 6-61 5 duoamq Patented May 19, 1931 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK C. RUSSELL AND CLINTON L. SAVIDGE, O]? TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MINERAL FELT INSULATING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MINERAL FIBER FELTING Application filed December 5, 1929. Serial No. 411,791.

This invention relates to massing of fibrous stock.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a machine for the automatic pro-. duction of felted mineral fiber blocks.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is across section through the primary forming mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a. view on the line IIIIII, 'Fi 2;

ig. 4 is a view on the line IVIV, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of'the conveyor and drive;

Fig. 6 is a view of the timing control or program disc, arts being broken away;

Fig. 7-is a si e view, taken from the right, of the control disc of Fig. 6;

Fi 8 is a view on the line VIIIV1II,

i 9 is a diagram of the piping control fort e machine.

Primary forming nwchanism The apparatus herein comprises a. main frame 1 mounting bearings 2 for carrying shafts 3. Pulleys 4 carried by the shafts 3 serve to mount endless foraminous conveyor 5 herein shown as comprisin mesh. The conveyor may e kept taut by means of belt tighteners 6.

Mounted by the frame 1 is receiving tank or basin 7 having its rim abut the underside of the upper reach of the conveyor 5. The

interior 0 the basin 7 is provided with a pair of opposing ledges 8 for mounting a series of bars 9 also abutting against the conveyor and forming a platform 10 over which the conveyor passes permitting weight or pressure to be applied against the conveyor while maintaining such against sagging. The conveyor as held upon the platform or table 10 presents a smooth flat surface while allowing drainage therethrough.

Carried by the frame 1 above the basin 7 (Figs. 1 and 2) is a pair of cylinders 11 having pistons 12 therein from which extend pistons rods 13 downwardly to engage opposite sides of open-top-open-bottom box structure 14. The lower edge 15 ofthe box a fine metallic or chamber providing structure 14 is provided with gasket 16 and operation of the pistons to lower the structure toward the basin 7 bring this gasket against the conveyor 5 thereby forming a chamber with a foralninous bottom or floor. Reverse action of the pistons 12 raise the chamber away from the conveyor.

There is also mounted on the frame 1 a third cylinder 17 disposed between the cylinders 11 and provided with a piston 18 from which depends piston rod 19 extending to plunger 20 of dimensions to snugly fit with the chamber 14 for roducing a piston and cylinder action there etween.

The plunger 20 is provided with depending peripheral skirt 21 having cut-out portions 22. The plunger is also provided with a series of depending flanges 23 extending thereacross which are provided with openings 24 therethrough. Foraminous plate 25 is carried by the plunger on the lower side thereof and abutting against the depending skirt 21 and flanges 23. Openings 26 through the plunger top complete a drainage system through and about the plunger whereby liquid may flowtherethrough but solid matter prevented passage by the plate 25.

The plunger 20 is provided with upstanding peripheral flange 27 having a series of openings 28 therethrough. This arrangement prevents slopping of liquid over the chamber top while the openings 28 allow any liquid which is entrapped between the flange 27 and the walls of the chamber to flow into the chamber 14 and not be forced up over the top thereof.

Valve 30 is opened and closed by means of piston 31 operating in cylinder 31' thus re lating the flow through said valve. Flex' le line 32 extends from thevalve 30 to connection'33 terminating in elongated opening 34' in the side of the chamber 14. The top limit travel of the piston 20 is above the openin 34. so that a charging of the chamber may be ad through this opening between the piston 20 and the conveyor 5.

Herein, the char e comprises a fluid mass embodying a liqui carrier, usuall water in which rock fiber is evenly disperse throughance may be varied by means of nuts 39. The

basin 7 is maintained filled with the liquid used as the carrier herein.

In normal operation valve 30 is opened for a timed. interval to permit a predetermined quantity of the fiber carrying liquid to travel through the duct 32 and through the opening 34 into the chamber 14 between the plunger 20 and the conveyor or floor 5. The chamber 14 rests against the conveyor. The basin 7 below the conveyor is filled with liquid so that the fiber carrying liquid in the chamber is kept from draining therefrom, the valve 37 having sufficient resistance against opening from the combined weight of the basin and chamber carried liquid.

The plunger 20 is then caused to descend through the liquid. A' portion of the liquid flows through the plunger while the increased pressure of the plunger added to the weight.

of the liquid against the valve 37 causes such to open allowing a portion of the liquid to drain therethrough. There is no drainage from the chamber before the plunger descends. The spring resistance against the valve is set to approximate alike volume of drainage through the valve as through the plunger. The fiber is compressed into a block against the conveyor 5, with a liquid volume in the chamber above the block and the basin. 7 below it maintained filled. The block thickness may be checked by means of gauge 29 carried by the flange 27. The plunger in-its descent works against the resistance of the liquid maintained in the basin, the flow resistance through the plunger and the increasing resistance of the fiber block as'it pacted.

The plunger is held a ainst the block for a time interval during which the chamber 14, by operation of the cylinders 11, is lifted. The liquid entrapped above the plunger may then drain downwardly through openings 26 and'out through openings 22in the skirt 21. The plunger is then lifted from the formed block and the conveyor advanced astep for carrying the formed block away from the chamber 14 and furnishing a new conveyor portion as a floor for receiving a succeedingblock.

A superior block is formed by this method. The fiber containin liquid is confined in the chamber and the action of the plunger against the upper surface and through'the liquid as against the resistance of the liquidhead below is com the chamber causes a two-way flow of the liquid as carrying the fiber both up and down, so the felting or interknitting of the fibers is the same at the top of the finished block as at the bottom. The upward liquid flow equals the down flow creating a condition of like flow in opposite directions from the center. This tion and the result is a block having a uniform and like tensile strength on its opposite faces Convey 01' drive Carried by each of the shafts '3 is a sprocket wheel 40 (Fig. 5) having an endless driving chain 41 thereabout. Mounted on the frame 1 below the chain 41 is cylinder 42 having piston 43 therein from which extends piston rod 44 terminating in upwardly and outwardly extending spur 45.

In the movement of the spur away from the carries like quantities of fiber in each direccylinder it engages a link of the chain 41 thereby moving the conveyor a distance e ual to the piston travel, which has been fixe to cause the formed block to be carried clear of the first operation or forming position and into position for receiving a second operation.

In the recovery stroke of the piston 43, the spur Withdraws from the link engagement and returns to starting position without effecting any movement of the chain. The piston rod 44 carries depending lug 46 for movement alongslide 47 which is carried by the frame as a support for the spur.

Secondary operation When the formed block is in position, the

press 49' is caused to descend through the o eration of piston rod 54 extending from piston 55 in cylinder 56. The lower terminus of the piston rod 54 is operable through toggle mechanism 57 in raising and lowering the less.

squeeze excess moisture therefrom which is caught by basin 52.

form a chamber 68 between it and the lower plate. Suction line 59 is in communicatlon with the chamber 58 and has valve 60 in such T e press as lowered coacts I against the: block 48 for a further compressing thereof to e press member 49 comprises upper. member 49' and foraminous press plate 49". -The upper member 49 is hollowed out to line regulated for being opened and closed I by action of the toggle which has connection 61 thereto. In lowering of the press memher, the valve 60 is opened causing a partial vacuum in the chamber 58 so that the excess moisture pressed through the top of the block is carried away The press li ting, due to the vacuum created in the chamber also lifts the block from the conveyor. The suction valve is closed and there is a time interval while the press is holding the block before the vacuum in the chamber is broken which ermits the placing of a tray beneath the bloc When the block falls from the press plate, it is caught by the tray'and the next movement of the conveyor carries such away from the press region where itmay be picked up to be carried to storage or to a drying room for curing.

Themachine is entirely automatic in operation and the various operations may be. timed one to the other and the time of each operation regulated in determining the character of the finished block.

Mounted on the framel is motor 62 having manual switch control 63. Through speed reduction gearing 64 and belt connection 65, program controlling disc 66 is caused to rotate carrying pairs of pins 67, 68, 69,- for operatin g four-way valves 70, 71, 72, respectively. The disc 66 is provided with three peripheral series of holes 73, one series for each pair of the pins which may be transferred by insertion from one hole to another in determining that particular pins operation upon its corresponding valve.

Pressure line 7 4 extends to the machine and is provided with safety relief 75. Branch line 76 extends to valve 71 through which flow to cylinders 11 causes the chamber 14 to be forced down upon the conveyor. Immediately following, further operation of the valve 72 by the second pin 69 allows pressure air to flow by branch 77 to cylinders 56 and 31 causing the previously formed block to receive its second pressing. simultaneously opening the valve 30 to charge the chamber 1 1.

Further rotation of the program dlsc I causes the four-way valve 72 to be turned onequarter turn (which is the case in each coaction of a pin upon one of the valves) causing lifting of the press and closing of the valve 30. by flow in line 7 7 to the lower side of the cylinders 31' and 56. The upper ends of the cylinders are simultaneously exhausted through the valve .7 2.

Directly following pressure air is delivered to cylinders 42, 17, through-line 78 from the valve causing retraction .of the driving spur and descent of the plunger 20 to form a block from the new charge. Following block formation, pressure air is delivered by line 7 9 from the valve 71 to cause the chamber 14 to be lifted allowing drainage therefrom. Pressure air from the valve 70 thereafter flows by line 80 to cylinders 17 and 42- lifting the plunger and causing the driving stroke to effect transfer of the block from the primary forming station to the secondary operation station.

Using a pressure pounds, blocks up to five inches thick have been produced at the rate of four a minute in the sequence of:

(1) Locating the conveyor;

(2) Charging during repressing;

(3) Cutting ofiI' charge supply during suceharging chamber on the tion lifting of repressed block from conveyor toermit tray insertion therebelow;

Primary pressing of the charge during idle recovery stroke of the driver for the conveyor;

. valves, the order being-valve 71, 72, 72, 70,

71, 70, in the complete cycle. These control members or four-way valves as receiving the quarter turn, receive such in a continuous direction of rotation intermittently so that the two rotations of the program disk 66 thus complete one full rotation of each control member or valve. This avoids any ob jections or complications from reversal .or resetting and is -a practical simplified control especially for the control of matter through valves as herein disclosed.

of approximately ten drive'to shift the pressed I In the carrying out of the operations hereunder, as disclosed, a block may be made from a fibrous material, either fiber from rock as blown or from slag or even asbestos or other fibrous stock. This material, say as produced from slag as the fibrous material, with the removal of grit or coarse particles, flooded q into the chamber for uniform deposit, has in effect the gravity knitting both up and down due to the liquid escape in each direction.

Although there ma' be a gravity knitting at the bottom, hereun er, such is accelerated by.

the foraminous floor. Further acceleration comes from the foraminous piston. per liquid escape, during plunger depression, means a flow of the liquid out of the mold,

which liquid hadbeen maintaining the fiberin suspension. This flow in effect carries the:

fibers upward toward the plunger for knitting together in the escape of this liquid up- Ward/- The result is a block approximating This up-;

uniform knitting of the fibers on the upper as well as thelower region ofa similar char acter for promoting strength and: of a simiiao lar cloth face appearance, all in a molded block with desirable attributes of strengthv against the liquid fiow therefrom.

resisting liquid flow from said second cham- 2. The method of forming a felted fiber block comprising confining a liquid containing separated fiber between a air of compressing members, permitting iquid escape through both members while compacting the fiber, and maintaining a resistance against liquid escape throu h one of said members.

3. The method 0 forming a felted fiber block comprising confining a liquid contain-' ing separated fiber between a air of compressing members, permitting iquid escape through both members while compacting the fiber, and maintaining an adjustable resistance against liquid escape through one of said members.

4. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber, a foraminous conveyor forming a floor for said chamber, a plunger in said chamber, means actuating said plunger toward and from said fioor, and means for moving said chamber toward and from said conveyor.

5. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber, a foraminous floor for said chamber, a second chamber below said floor which floo'r forms a top therefor, a plunger in said first chamber, means for charging said chamber between the fioorand plunger with a fiber containing liquid, actuatin means for the plunger to force the liquid tirough said floor into said second chamber, and means ber, Wl'llCh means are overcome by the liquid flow from said first chamber into said second chamber.

6. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber, a foraminous floor for said chamber,,a second chamber below said'flo'or which floor forms a top therefor, a plunger in said first chamber, means for charging said chamber between the floor and plunger with a fiber containing liquid, actuating means for the plunger to force the liquid through said floor into said second chamber, and adjustable means resisting liquid fiow from said second chamber, which means are overcome by the liquid flow from said first chamber into said second chamber.

7. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber, a plunger in said chamber, a foraminous conveyor forming a floor for said chamber, means for moving said plunger to and from said floor in said chamber, means movto compress the fiber thereagainst while forcing the liquid through said fiber against the liquid wall.

9. A fiber felting machine comprising a pair of chambers having a foraminous partition therebetween, the second of said chambers being liquid filled for maintaining a liquid wall against said partition, means for charging the first chamber with a separated fiber containing liquid, a plunger in said first chamber coacting toward said partition to compress the fiber thereagainst while forcing the liquid through said fiber against the liquid wall, and a drain for the excess liquid forced into said second chamber comprising means for controlling the resistance through said drain.

10. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber having a foraminous floor, a foraminous plunger in said chamber, means for charging said chamber between the floor and lunger with a fiber containing liquid, means orcing the plunger toward the floor to compact the fiber between the floor and plunger while permitting a portion of liquid to flow upward through the plunger into the chamber above the compacted fiber, and means for lifting said chamber above the plunger to allow the liquid to drain therefrom.

11. A fiber felting machine comprising a liquid, means forcing said plunger toward said conveyor to form a block of compacted fiber therebetween, means removing the chamber from the conveyor, means driving said conveyor to carry said block away from the chamber, and a second plunger coacting against said block as carried by the conveyor.

12. A fiber felting machine comprising a chamber, a foraminous conveyor as a floor for said chamber, a plunger in said chamber, means for charging said chamber between the floor and plunger with a fiber containing liquid, means forcing said plunger toward said conveyor to form a block of compacted fiber therebetween, means removing the chamber from the conveyor, means driving said conveyor to carry said block away from the chamber, a second plunger coacting against said block as carried by the conveyor, and

soaoaa means removing said block from the con veyor.

13. A fiber felting machine comprising a fiber block forming means including a conveyor, driving means for the conveyor for carrying the block from the forming means,-

and plunger means coacting against said conveyor carried block including means to engage said block and lift such from the convey fiber block formin means, secondary block forming means, an block pick-up means carried by the secondary block forming means. 15. A fiber felting machine comprising a conveyor, means coacting against said conveyor for forming a compacted fiber block thereon, means intermittently driving said conveyor, secondary means coacting against said conveyor foran additional block forming operation, and means for icking up said block from the conveyor f0 owing the secondary formin operation.

16. A fiber elting machine comprising a conveyor, means coacting against said conveyor for forming a compacted fiber block thereon, means intermittently driving saidconveyor, secondary means coacting against said conveyor for an additional block forming operation, means for picking up said block from the conveyor following the addi-- tional forming operation, and means for con-' trolling said means in a time sequence. 17. A fiber felting machine com rising I fiber block forming means, a trans er for said block from said means, a secondary operation performing means to which said block is transferred, and means coacting with said secondary operation performingmeans for charging the forming means during the sec ondary operation. a

18. A fiber felting machine comprising primary and secondary operation performing means to produce a fiber block, fiber ,chargingmeans for the primary 0 oration performmg means, transfer means etween the primary and secondary operation performing means,,means. for removing the finished block from the transfer means, and a control for the machine maintaining a timed sequencethroughout said block production. In witness whereof we afiix our si atures.

' FRANK C. RUSS LL.

- CLINTON L. SAVIIDG'rE.

or. Ia. A fiber felting machine embodying 

